Corner mounting apparatus for horizontally overlapping siding

ABSTRACT

Corner mounting apparatus for mounting corner pieces of horizontally overlapping siding on buildings, and methods of use are described. The corner mounting apparatus includes an angled sheet of material such as vinyl, forming a first and a second wing. Each wing has a pair of folds, of which the first fold forms a recess for receiving a mounting flange of a corner siding piece, and material extending from the second fold forms a mounting flange for mounting the corner mounting apparatus to the building.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates in general to building and construction materials and methods, and more particularly to corner mounting apparatus and related mounting methods for horizontally overlapping siding such as vinyl siding materials.

[0002] Horizontally overlapping siding such as vinyl siding is an extremely popular material for finishing the exteriors of buildings. Such siding is durable, attractive, and requires little maintenance. Typically the siding is applied to the exteriors of structures in successive, horizontally overlapping rows and specially shaped corner pieces are secured to the structure corners, overlapping and concealing the ends of the horizontal sections. Typically the horizontal sections and corner pieces are applied in such a way that the corner pieces may not be easily removed from the building after the horizontal sections have been applied because the nails that hold the corner pieces upon the building have been covered by horizontal sections.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In a first embodiment, the invention is directed toward a corner trim mounting apparatus for horizontally overlapping siding including a sheet of material disposed as a first wing and a second wing, the first and second wings disposed at an angle relative to one another, the first wing and the second wing each having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the first wing and the second wing each disposed as a first fold and a second fold, wherein the first fold forms a recess in the wing exterior surface for receiving a mounting flange of a corner trim piece of the horizontally overlapping siding, and wherein the sheet of material extends from the second fold in each wing to form a mounting flange for mounting the corner trim mounting apparatus on a corner of a structure.

[0004] In another embodiment, the invention is directed toward a method of mounting a corner trim piece of horizontally overlapping siding, the method including providing a corner trim mounting apparatus comprising a sheet of material disposed as a first wing and a second wing disposed at an angle relative to one another, the first and second wings each having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the first and second wings each disposed as a first fold and a second fold, the first fold forming a recess in the wing exterior surface for receiving a mounting flange of the corner trim piece, wherein the sheet of material extends from the second fold in each wing to form a mounting flange for mounting the corner trim mounting apparatus on a corner of a structure. In one embodiment of the method, horizontally overlapping siding material is secured to exterior walls of the structure, the corner trim mounting apparatus is secured to the corner of the structure, and a mounting flange of the corner trim piece is inserted into a recess of the corner trim mounting apparatus.

[0005] In another embodiment, the invention is directed toward a method of replacing a first corner trim piece used with horizontally overlapping siding including providing a corner trim mounting apparatus having at least one recess in an exterior surface configured to reversibly secure at least one mounting flange of the first corner trim piece, mounting the corner trim mounting apparatus on a corner of a building, and securing the first corner trim piece on the corner of the building by inserting the at least one mounting flange of the first corner trim piece into the at least one recess.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 is a top view of a corner mounting apparatus for horizontally overlapping siding; and

[0007]FIG. 2 is a top view of a corner mounting apparatus for horizontally overlapping siding with the corner mounted thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention provides a corner trim mounting apparatus 10 for use with horizontally overlapping siding. The apparatus 10 generally comprises a first portion 12 and a second portion 14 (the portions also referred to as “wings”). The first portion and the second portion are joined at an angle that is substantially 90 degrees. However, other angles are contemplated and intended to be within the scope of the present invention. Regardless, ninety degrees is by far the most common angle encountered on a building covered with horizontally overlapping siding and is therefore used for exemplary purposes.

[0009] Each portion 12, 14 generally comprises a recess or pocket 16. In the preferred form of the invention, the pocket is formed by overlapped portions 18, 20 of the wings 12, 14. However, countless other methods of forming a pocket may be used, such as molding an extension onto a corner trim mounting apparatus rather than overlapping a portion of the apparatus, and such variations are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. The apparatus 10 also preferably comprises wing extensions 22, 24. The wings extensions 22, 24 may further define obround cutouts (not shown) through which nails may be inserted to hold the apparatus to the side of a building. An obround cutout allows the apparatus 10 to expand and contract with temperature and prevents buckling of the apparatus 10 that may occur it the cutout were merely circular or cutouts were eliminated and the nail was used to pierce the apparatus to attach it to a building. An obround is defined as a plane figure with two parallel sides and semicircular ends. Obrounds are the most preferred form of the cutout, but any cutout that allowed the movement of the apparatus about the nail, such as a rectilinear cutout, is intended to be within the scope of the present invention. Obround cutouts are known within the art of horizontally overlapping siding. Obround cutouts may or may not be necessary depending on the material used for the apparatus and the material's associated coefficient of thermal expansion. The apparatus is preferably made from a thermoplastic resin.

[0010] In use, the apparatus 10 is nailed over the corner of a building that is to be covered with horizontally overlapping siding. The horizontalling overlapping siding 106 is then applied to the building so that the ends of the lengths of horizontally overlapping siding are generally even with the opening of a pocket 16. Next, a standard corner molding 100 commonly used with horizontally overlapping siding is inserted with its flanges 102, 104 within the pockets 16 so that it is retained by the apparatus 10. In this manner, if the corner molding 100 is later damaged, it may simply be replaced by removing the flanges 102, 104 from the pockets 16 and replaced with new corner molding without having to remove nails that have been applied and covered by the horizontal siding 106 to obscure the nails from view.

[0011] The explanations and illustrations presented herein are intended to acquaint others skilled in the art with the invention, its principles, and its practical application. Those skilled in the art may adapt and apply the invention in its numerous forms, as may be best suited to the requirements of a particular use. Accordingly, the specific embodiments of the present invention as set forth are not intended as being exhaustive or limiting of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A corner trim mounting apparatus for horizontally overlapping siding comprising: a sheet of material disposed as a first wing and a second wing, said first and second wings disposed at an angle relative to one another; said first wing and said second wing each having an exterior surface and an interior surface; said first wing and said second wing each disposed as a first fold and a second fold, the first fold forming a recess in the wing exterior surface for receiving a mounting flange of a corner trim piece of the horizontally overlapping siding; and wherein said sheet of material extends from said second fold in each wing to form a mounting flange for mounting the corner trim mounting apparatus on a corner of a structure.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second folds extend along a longitudinal extent of said sheet of material, said second fold comprising a reverse fold with respect to said first fold.
 3. Corner trim mounting apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the sheet of material comprises vinyl siding material.
 4. Corner trim mounting apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said mounting flange extending from said second fold in each wing comprises a portion of said sheet of material disposed at an angle with respect to a remainder of the wing.
 5. A method of mounting a corner trim piece of horizontally overlapping siding comprising: providing corner trim mounting apparatus comprising a sheet of material disposed as a first wing and a second wing disposed at an angle relative to one another, the first and second wings each having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the first and second wings each disposed as a first fold and a second fold, the first fold forming a recess in the wing exterior surface for receiving a mounting flange of the corner trim piece, wherein the sheet of material extends from the second fold in each wing to form a mounting flange for mounting the corner trim mounting apparatus on a corner of a structure.
 6. A method in accordance with claim 5 further comprising: securing horizontally overlapping siding material to exterior walls of the structure; securing the corner trim mounting apparatus to the corner of the structure; and inserting a mounting flange of the corner trim piece into a recess of the corner trim mounting apparatus.
 7. A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein securing the corner trim mounting apparatus to the corner of the structure comprises inserting the mounting flanges of the corner trim mounting apparatus between ends of the horizontally overlapping siding material and the exterior walls of the structure.
 8. A method in accordance with claim 7 further comprising replacing a first corner trim piece mounted on the corner trim mounting apparatus by withdrawing the mounting flanges of the corner trim piece from the recesses of the corner trim piece mounting apparatus and inserting a second corner trim piece.
 9. A method of replacing a first corner trim piece of horizontally overlapping siding, said method comprising: providing a corner trim mounting apparatus having at least one recess in an exterior surface configured to reversibly secure at least one mounting flange of the first corner trim piece; mounting the corner trim mounting apparatus on a corner of a building; and securing the first corner trim piece on the corner of the building by inserting the at least one mounting flange of the first corner trim piece into the at least one recess.
 10. A method in accordance with claim 9 further comprising withdrawing the at least one mounting flange of the first corner trim piece from the at least one recess of the corner trim mounting apparatus and inserting at least one mounting flange of a second corner trim piece into the at least one recess to replace the first corner trim piece.
 11. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein mounting the corner trim mounting apparatus on a corner of a building comprises mounting horizontally overlapping siding on walls adjacent to the corner so that the at least one recess of the corner trim mounting apparatus is accessible without removing the horizontally overlapping siding.
 12. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein the corner trim mounting apparatus includes a sheet of material disposed as a first wing and a second wing disposed at an angle relative to one another, the first and second wings each having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the first and second wings each disposed as a first fold and a second fold, the first fold forming the at least one recess in the wing exterior surface for receiving at least one mounting flange of the corner trim piece, wherein the sheet of material extends from the second fold in each wing to form a mounting flange for mounting the corner trim mounting apparatus on a corner of a structure.
 13. A corner trim mounting apparatus for horizontally overlapping siding comprising: a first portion and second portion joined at a generally ninety degree angle; each of the first and second portions forming a pocket in its exterior surface capable removable attachment to a length of horizontally overlapping siding corner trim. 